The State newspaper reports:
WASHINGTON — Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., will not be the next chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, a Democratic aide confirmed Tuesday as Hastings left a private meeting with Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
[...]
Among the others mentioned as possible intelligence committee heads are Reps. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who is just behind Hastings in seniority on the intelligence panel; Norm Dicks of Washington, Anna Eshoo of California, Rush Holt of New Jersey and Sanford Bishop of Georgia.
Pelosi won’t back foe Calif. Rep. Jane Harman, so one of those mentioned above will be a likely pick. This is a shrewd, politically calculated move by Pelosi, which may backfire with the CBC, but regardless, it was a decision she needed to make. An impeached federal judge has no place being chair of any committee in Congress. For that matter, he really has no place in Congress - period, but there’s no accounting for taste amongst Hastings’ constituents, apparently.
Hat tip: Allah, who has multiple links on this story.
More: Ed Driscoll says “We’re still in the preseason, but that’s 0 for 2 for Speaker-to-be-Pelosi, incidentally.”
Update: Hastings is blaming this on “haters” - via TPMmuckracker:
“Best of all, I will be seeking better and bigger opportunities in a Democratic Congress. There is much to be accomplished and little time to re-set this nation’s economic and spiritual compass. I look forward to working with our new Speaker of the House and all of my colleagues to see that we do this at once.
“Sorry, haters, God is not finished with me yet.”
Comment by Drewsmom @ 11/28/2006 - 5:43 pm
Correction - 0 for 3:
Today when a reporter asked her what she thought of the effects of al Qaeda on the existing Iraq violence she said:
“…My coments concerning the presidents connecting of al Qeada and Iraq are well known. That connection was already completely disproved by the 9/11 commision….”
(First off the 9/11 commision never examined al Qaeda violence in Iraq, and secondly, that wasn’t the question. It was obvious, as many have pointed out before that Pelosi is about one talking point deep, and if the questions go beyond that she announces the press conference is over. But this answer was obviously brain lint from some of her days in front of the camera in the last year bad mouthing Iraq, and almost everything Bush does, so it just popped out naturally. wind her up, hand her todays hard Left talking points, and let ‘re rip.)
- In spite of all of her staffs efforts to hide her from the press, she just can’t help herself. They issued a short statement sometime later that claimed…”The Speaker mis-understood the question….”.
- Nancy’s not getting off to an auspicious start. Maybe its the responsibility of all those lawn jockies she was thinking about, and how Alcee will fit in with the group in front of her house.
- Bang
Comment by Big Bang Hunter @ 11/28/2006 - 7:42 pm
Count me amongst the haters. I hate arrogant corrupt buffoons who presume to lecture me on integrity and “resetting America’s spiritual compass.” I hate people who, when caught with their hands in the cookie jar, go on the offensive (or at least I hate anyone over six years old doing that - you expect that behaviour from children). I hate criminals in public office who retain that office and cloak themselves in righteousness.
Comment by Steve Skubinna @ 11/28/2006 - 7:48 pm
Mr. Hastings can pretend he’s hated all he wants. The bottom line is he wasn’t qualified for the job, and even Pelosi finally twigged on.
Comment by geezer @ 11/28/2006 - 8:35 pm
In a sign of the bitterness that has surrounded the debate, Hastings closed his statement by saying: “Sorry, haters, God is not finished with me yet.”
I have to wonder if he was crying and sticking out his bottom lip. Does our little boy need his Mommy?? How can you take these guys seriously. God Bless the Democratic Party, I do believe that their actions alone has caused more people to laugh their way out of depression than any others.
Pelosi keeps screwing up like this and she is going to be bounced outta the leadership post. She will then have 2 records. 1st woman Speaker, and shortest time in postion. - Lorica
Comment by Lorica @ 11/28/2006 - 9:51 pm